About Me

Retired teacher with experience of life outside the classroom.Was, amongst other things, prior to becoming a schoolteacher,a barbers boy, a Woolworth's trainee,a windowdresser,an office clerk, a farm labourer and a youth leader.Oh, and for all of four hours a Betterware salesman.

Friday, 29 June 2012

A Day in the Life of....

I normally post every seven days or so. Plus I normally blog as far as possible on non controversial items, I don't do topical. But we've had a funny, not funny ha ha day,. My/our solar panels packed up and its dominated the day. That's how sad our day has been; Its an age thing to a certain extent.
I've got nowhere dealing with 'big business' and I feel frustrated and demeaned. Is this the state we have reached. Is no one straight/honest anymore. Are we aged beings of no value, no importance. In this instance, time will tell. Having, I feel, being dismissed out of hand today; by putting pen to paper, I feel better already!

Copy of letter sent to the over governing body of the solar industry

Dear Sarah

You e-mailed me 11 June concerning problems with Solar Sun 4 Life UK. I e-mailed back reporting that EVENTUALLY Solar Sun delivered a Bluetooth device as paid for in the original order. No doubt influenced by your interest.

29th June.

I write this e-mail with a strong feeling of deja vu. At 8,40am Wed 27th June the system fitted by Solar 4 Life recorded no solar working due to 'grid voltage fault' according to the bluetooth device. (Not noticed by ourselves until Thursday afternoon.) I rang Solar 4 and was instructed to carry out a procedure that should clear the problem, but to wait for results until Friday (today). No result so I rang this morning at 9 30am. The 'office manager' took the call and professed surprise that I was unduly concerned. This system cost £10,000 approx and is losing me on average £8 daily each day it is out of action. He said he would try to arrange someone to call (he talked of an inverter failing. I had not mentioned an inverter but know some people in Chesterfield have been waiting some time for problems to be dealt with) He suggested I gave him time (until dinner) to arrange something. Rang dinnertime. Message received, ongoing, surprise, surprise. Suggested, promised, it would be dealt with afternoonwise.

Nothing! Rang 5 05pm Steve, the 'owner 'answered. Made excuses and PROMISED he would suggest course of action BEFORE he left the office. As expected, no chance! No phone message (There is a long history of past pathetic lack of meeting promised deadlines etc,) How do these people hold a license that suggests they are fit people to be NATIONALLY ok to serve you and I is beyond belief. What exactly is the purpose of real assurance.org.org.uk

Ken Stevens

'Epilogue'

The Real Assurance people contacted me, were sympathetic without seemingly having 'teeth' and gave me the address/e-mail of others in the solar panel 'care/concern hierarchy.

I eventually made another contact with Solar 4 You. Instructions were again relayed (this time to my wife who has much more technical ability/ understanding than myself) which necessitated crawling about in the loft and pressing buttons connected to the 'inverter'. Wait, and next day, hey presto, a return to normal. My blood pressure has seemingly also returned to normal, presumably until the next time.

We are obviously relieved but feel that 'big business' and perhaps some of the younger generation miss the point. To be oblivious as to the stress and anxiety their actions can cause defies belief. I KNOW the pressure of the commercial world is considerable. BUT the ways of the world in dealing with it do not seem to equate with the world of my youth. It is no great fun getting old. Even less so when dealt with in a way that lacks understanding and compassion. Good luck in life but don't forget, my friends, you too will one day be old!